Duke Basketball: Blue Devils' Best Situational Lineups for 2015-16
Duke had a relatively thin rotation during the 2014-15 season, which didn't allow for much creativity when it came to putting different lineups on the court. Most of the substitutions were rest-related, not in an effort to create mismatches or execute a certain game plan.
That won't be the case this season, as the Blue Devils figure to go deeper into the bench thanks to a large, six-man recruiting class and the availability of Rice transfer Sean Obi. Combine those seven players with holdovers Grayson Allen, Amile Jefferson, Matt Jones and Marshall Plumlee, and Duke is suddenly rolling in options.
This doesn't mean Mike Krzyzewski is going to suddenly institute a platoon or regularly go 11-deep on his bench, but just knowing that's possible makes Duke even more difficult to game-plan for.
Here's our look at some of the best lineups Duke could turn to in 2015-16, depending on the situation at hand.
The Tipoff
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The lineup: Derryck Thornton, Grayson Allen, Brandon Ingram, Chase Jeter, Sean Obi
First and foremost, we need to have the starting five out there. It's the formation that will not only be out there to begin with, but the one that figures to play the most together throughout the course of a game unless Mike Krzyzewski determines someone in his stable is best used as a first-off-the-bench guy who ends up playing more than others.
That was the case last year with Matt Jones, who averaged more minutes than Amile Jefferson despite starting 14 games to 26 for Jefferson.
The only starting spot that appears to be in question at this point is shooting guard, where Allen figures to have the edge heading into the preseason thanks to his hot finish to 2014-15. Luke Kennard plays a very similar game and could end up beating Allen out, but for now we'll stick with the sophomore over the untested freshman.
This quintet will have an equal balance of size—Obi is 6'9" and 270 pounds, while Jeter is 6'10"—and ball-handlers, with Thornton doing most of the point work but Allen having the ability to run the offense as well. In between is Ingram, who at 6'9" can work inside but who also has the perimeter game and all-around skill set to make him a perfect swingman.
Small Ball
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The lineup: Derryck Thornton, Grayson Allen (or Luke Kennard), Matt Jones, Brandon Ingram, Chase Jeter
Duke has four capable guards, all of whom were 4- or 5-star prospects coming out of high school. The lowest-rated of the group was Jones, who was the 38th-best player in the 2013 class, according to 247Sports, but Jones also has the kind of game that allows him to play the 3 if the Blue Devils want to go small.
That's similar to what they did down the stretch last year, when the 6'4" Jones replaced 6'9" Amile Jefferson in the starting lineup to allow Justise Winslow to play the 4. Brandon Ingram is this year's Winslow, a multi-position player whose length and athleticism can open things up for what Duke can do.
With those shifts, Jeter then becomes the de facto center, but thanks to his defensive skills. It's not the kind of lineup that will match up well against big teams, but if Duke is getting beat by faster, smaller guards, this can help neutralize that while still maintaining plenty of its own offensive punch.
Go Big
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The lineup: Derryck Thornton, Matt Jones, Brandon Ingram (or Amile Jefferson), Chase Jeter, Sean Obi (or Marshall Plumlee)
Last season, Duke really only had two true post players in Jahlil Okafor and Plumlee, and they rarely ever played together. Plumlee's main role was to spell Okafor or come in to rescue the Blue Devils from foul trouble, and often that would mean pairing him with Amile Jefferson instead of Justise Winslow.
It wasn't very imposing, but it got the job done.
Duke has far more flexibility in the frontcourt for 2015-16, with Okafor replaced by Obi and Jeter, and Ingram joining Jefferson in filling in for Winslow. Depending on how they develop, lesser-regarded freshmen Antonio Vrankovic and Justin Robinson could find themselves in Plumlee-like roles as bit players who from time to time get more minutes for matchup purposes.
There aren't a lot of overly big teams in the ACC, outside of North Carolina, but that's one place where Duke would benefit from having more size to work with.
Slow It Down, Drag It Out
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The lineup: Derryck Thornton, Matt Jones, Brandon Ingram, Amile Jefferson, Chase Jeter
Ask any Duke fan, and they'll begrudgingly tell you that their least favorite lineup is the one that Mike Krzyzewski puts on the court when he's got a lead of six to 10 points and wants to keep it that way. Rather than go in for the kill, the Blue Devils instead take the air out of the ball by slowing things down and minimizing risk.
Call it Stall Ball or whatever, but its purpose is simple: Don't blow the lead. It might not look pretty, especially compared to how Duke looks the rest of the game, but it's gotten the job done over the past 30-plus years.
The key to this unit is taking time off the clock and looking for a quality shot while avoiding turnovers that can lead to quick transition baskets for the opponent. At the same time, that group needs to be good at forcing opponents to go deep into the possession before getting a shot off.
Jeter has been lauded for his defensive acumen, which makes him the best choice of Duke's big men. The rest of the rundown goes to good ball-handlers and people with length, as well as those who take good care of the ball. Of the returners, that gives Jefferson and Jones the edge over Allen since Allen tended to play with too high a motor for such a scenario.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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